Round Square is an international network of schools, based on the educational concepts of Kurt Hahn, and named after a distinctive building at Gordonstoun. Founded by a group of seven schools in the late 1960s, by 1996 it had grown to 20 member schools worldwide, and has since expanded to over 200 schools.[1] Round Square is incorporated in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee, and is a registered charity.
On 5 June 1966, Kurt Hahn’s 80th birthday was celebrated at Schule Schloss Salem, and as the headmaster of the school Winthrop Young invited the headmasters of Box Hill School, Gordonstoun, Louisenlund, Anavryta, Battisborough, the Athenian School, and the recently opened Atlantic College, to discuss the establishment of a Hahn schools conference.[3][6][7] This meeting was chaired by King Constantine and during its course an agreement was reached on naming the conference "The Hahn Schools", it was then decided that the first conference would be held at Gordonstoun in 1967.[7] At this first conference at Hahn's insistence the name "The Hahn Schools" was dropped in favour of a new name "The Round Square" after an iconic building at Gordounstoun.[2] Six of the schools that attended this first conference and were the founding members of the Round Square: Box Hill School, Gordonstoun, Anavryta Experimental Lyceum, Schule Schloss Salem, Aiglon College and Abbotsholme School. At the 2nd Round Square conference held at Box Hill the principles of the association were established and co-education was the first of the sequence of conference themes that were discussed.[7] At a later conference held at Box Hill in 1980 the R.S.I.S. (Round Square International Service) was created to promote and organise overseas voluntary service projects in much the same way as the project in Cephalonia.[7] Winthrop Young retired as headmaster of Salem in 1974 but continued to run the Round Square association as Honorary Secretary and later as Director until he retired from that position in 1992.[8]
RSIC 2024 Opening Ceremony, opening speech featuring her right honorable Ngina Kenyatta
Round Square schools encourage students to take part in a range of community service activities both locally and internationally. Many projects are run through the school and further opportunities are available via the Round Square Region, Network and Worldwide Organisation.[9][10] Notable events including the Round Square International Conference (RSIC), where as the most recent 2024 conference took place in Brookhouse School, Nairobi.
Round Square schools are characterised by a shared belief in an approach to education built around six themes, our IDEALS, drawn from the theories of the educationalist Kurt Hahn.[11]
The Round Squared IDEALS
Themes
Expectations
I
Internationalism
Discover and embrace similarities and differences between countries and cultures, promoting lasting transnational understanding and respect.
D
Democracy
Develop a personal compass for equality, fairness, justice, self-discipline, responsibility and a desire to do what is right for the greater good.
E
Enviromentalism
Broaden horizons to understand mankind's place in the universe, the forces that shape our surroundings, and the impact we have.
A
Adventure
Push beyond perceived limits, cross boundaries, and discover that they are capable of more than they thought possible.
L
Leadership
Recognise that successful leaders are driven by a desire to be of service to others and to nurture, guide, develop and help them to improve and succeed.
S
Service
Ready and willing to volunteer and be involved where we are needed, applying and developing skills and understanding in support of individuals and communities both close to home and further afield.
^Tacy, Peter (2006). Ideals at work: education for world stewardship in the Round Square schools. Deerfield, Mass.: Deerfield Academy Press. ISBN9780975575826.
